Getty Images on UnsplashIn the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament, Jesus tells us to embrace the life of God.
Embrace:
“To fully and willingly accept or welcome a situation, idea, or opportunity, often with enthusiasm and a positive attitude, rather than simply tolerating it. It implies adopting something or actively engaging with it, even if it’s challenging or unfamiliar.” (Source: Gemini)
To fully (or completely) and willingly accept is another way of saying surrender.
I like the picture this definition paints.
You embrace (change, surrender, or whatever the situation) it with enthusiasm and a positive attitude.
How different would our world be if people “embraced” that?!
It implies actively engaging in the change.
I have written numerous posts about the importance of the words we speak.
Here are two references:
Do you not understand the words coming out of my mouth?
Words can be your salvation or damnation: What is your mouth saying?
The late motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar, had a saying,
“If you don’t like where you are, change where you are.”
As a Christ-follower, this begins with changing my words.
Here’s what I mean.
Part of my daily prayer routine includes a proclamation from the word of God.
In this proclamation, I speak (louder than a whisper, but not a shout) the Word of God over the things that are important to me.
My reference for this is found in Genesis in the Old Testament book of beginnings.
“God spoke, light, and light appeared. And God saw that it was good.”
Genesis 1:1 The Message
The Apostle Paul says this about (Father) Abraham.
“As it is written: ‘I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our Father in the sight of God, in whom he believed — the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.”
Romans 4:17 New International Version
The Message explains it this way:
“We call Abraham ‘father’ not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn’t that what we’ve always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, “I set you up as father of many peoples”? Abraham was first named “father” and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing.”
Romans 4:17 The Message
God the Father makes something out of nothing by speaking.
Jesus speaks to this in a lesson to his disciples.
“Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it,”
And nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’ — no shuffling or shilly-shallying — and it’s as good as done.
That’s why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything.”
Mark 11:22–24 The Message
The New Living Translation says it this way:
I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.
Mark 11:23 New Living Translation
Therefore,
A prayer of proclamation is saying the Word of God over your situation.
Here are some examples:
· I feel so overwhelmed in my life
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
I Peter 5:7 New Living Translation
Father, I proclaim these worries and cares belong to you because you care for me, in Jesus’ name.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag.
Isaiah 40:31 The Message
Father, I proclaim that I am soaring like an eagle because you give me fresh strength, in Jesus’ name.
· I am tired of struggling financially
The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.
Proverbs 10:22 New Living Translation
Father, I proclaim the blessing of the Lord that brings wealth over my life, in Jesus’ name.
· What’s the point of it all?
I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out — plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
“When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.
Jeremiah 29:11–12 The Message
Father, I proclaim your plans to care for me throughout my life. I am calling, and you are listening, in Jesus’ name.
A simple proclamation prayer
Father, I proclaim these worries and cares belong to you because you care for me.
I proclaim that I am soaring like an eagle because you give me fresh strength.
I proclaim your plans to take care of me. I am calling, and you are listening.
I proclaim the blessing of the Lord that brings godly wealth over my life, in Jesus’ name.
The call of the Spirit is going out across the land for light bearers and (wisdom-speaking) truth givers to bring the words of life to a lost and dying world — one person at a time.
The journey is exciting and scary, and I am grateful to everyone willing to follow along as I take it.